CN1774677A - Clock machinery and watches provided with such clock machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

Clockwork comprising at least a first hand (40, 42, 44) and a second hand (46) designed to indicate the local time by means of a hand movement rotating on a dial, and also comprising a drive mechanism connected to these hands. In particular, the hands are arranged to include said at least one first hand (44) and to display the local time with the slowest hand rotation period of 12 hours, and one or several other hands (40, 42) connected thereto and having a shorter rotation period, such as a minute hand and/or a second hand. In addition, a second pointer (46) indicates universal time in association with a scale (22) preferably marked as "lap" with an integer multiple of 24 on a scale line with a period of rotation of 24 hours. In a preferred embodiment, the second pointer (46) cooperates with a dial (22) comprising 360 degrees or graduation marks. Such a clockwork is constructed as a watch, but can alternatively be used advantageously elsewhere, for example on the display screens of personal computers and mobile telephones.

Description

Clock machinery and watches provided with such clock machinery

The invention relates to a timepiece mechanism comprising at least one first and second hand and designed to indicate the local time by movement of the hands rotating on a dial, wherein the hands are arranged to comprise said at least one first hand and to have a 12-hour The slowest hand has a period of rotation showing the local time, and one or several other hands connected to it with a shorter period of rotation, such as minutes and/or seconds.

It is known that timepieces of this kind are capable of displaying various other indications in addition to the standard local time.

The inventors of the present invention recognized the fact that the rotation of the Earth around its own axis actually represents only Coordinated Universal Time (Universal Time or UT) which is difficult to derive from local time (LT); Agreed times between time zones or in the case of change points between daylight saving time and winter time can be prone to error. In principle, universal time is indicated by, for example, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). On the basis of the Greenwich meridian, the earth is divided into 24 parts (0 to 24 hours) with every 15 degrees of longitude as a unit, starting from the 180° of the international date line facing Greenwich.

The present inventors have recognized that there is a need for a timepiece of otherwise standard construction in which the world time can be easily read without any further recalculation by means of an additional hand and suitably chosen dial.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a timepiece mechanism, which is also easy to read, adjust and manufacture.

According to the invention, a timepiece of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph is used for this purpose, characterized in that said second hand has a rotation period of 24 hours and the number of graduation marks formed on the timepiece is an integral multiple of 24 The dial matches the world time. For reasons of reading accuracy, such a dial preferably has a relatively large number of graduation marks. Suitable numbers are eg 240 graduations (=10×24) and 720 graduations (=30×24). Due to the second pointer the correlation with the corresponding scale which is an integer multiple of 24 can be easily suggested.

In a preferred embodiment, the dial scale assignment corresponding to integer multiples of 24 comprises a dial with 360 graduation marks. Such a dial has great advantages. The time interval corresponding to one scale unit is 4 minutes, which is a particularly practical value. Plus, this dial adjacent to the 12-hour dial and possibly the 24-hour dial can be easily displayed. A particularly practical dial can thus be maintained in practice if the timepiece mechanism is configured as a wristwatch and has conventional dimensions suitable for it. An important additional advantage is that, where necessary, reading and calculations with such a scale are relatively simple, since the user is anyway familiar with the twelve-digit system in the field of time measurement. In addition, the geometric correlation between "round-the-clock" and the 360 degrees of the circle is also attractive, since the notation and value of the geometric dimension of 360 degrees and its (mainly) proportional distribution are familiar to watch users. Finally, a very important advantage of the horological mechanism according to the invention is that the 360 degree dial provides a direct and correct relationship to the rotation of the earth, also fully defining the length of the day.

In a specific preferred embodiment, the setting of the hands can be adjusted to the local time without affecting the setting of the world time. Other parts of the invention are stated in the dependent claims.

These and other features, parts and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below in conjunction with the drawings and various embodiments, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 approximately shown in its actual size;

Fig. 3 represents the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 3 approximately shown in its actual size;

Fig. 5 represents the 3rd preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 represents the embodiment of Figure 5 shown approximately in its actual size;

Fig. 7 represents the 4th preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 represents the embodiment of Figure 7 shown approximately in its actual size; and

Fig. 9 is a block diagram of a drive mechanism in this timepiece mechanism.

Except for Figures 2, 4, 6 and 8, the rest of the figures are not shown to scale. Corresponding elements are generally denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the following description of the present invention, the time indication marked with "Turntime" ("circle number time") will be used as the international communication time, and the entire rotation of the earth in a day is evenly divided into 360 circles, so that these The time zone is divided into 15 revolutions per hour (1 revolution is 4 minutes), and a day from 0 to 24 hours is equal to 360 revolutions. Periodic and other small fluctuations in the Earth's rotational speed are not taken into account, so Turntime (TT) is "true solar time", recorded as in UTC (UT) from dateline to dateline as Every 4-minute interval in the hour-minute-second system based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Turntime is the same throughout the world at all times; it does not distinguish between am, pm, winter time or daylight saving time. It prevents errors in international communication, and in addition the Turntime corresponds to Universal Time (UT) and is therefore also marked Worldwide@Turntime.

Turntime watches or clocks are provided with an @ hand (Turntime) and are additionally usually provided with second, minute and hour hands (LT) for local time, whether or not in combination with other hands such as a calendar window. In this preferred embodiment, the dial is provided with three dials: 0 to 360 revolutions (TT), 0 to 24 hours (UT) and 1 to 12 hours (LT).

In a preferred embodiment, an additional digital counter with changing digits for displaying the number of revolutions from 0 to 360 is used in combination with an analog or quasi-analog display. This digital counter, whether combined with an analog display or not, records Turntime in laps (0 to 360), minutes (0 to 4) and seconds (0 to 60). This TMS (turns, minutes, seconds) display is very effective in international communication, and it is practically impossible to make mistakes in judging the correct time zone. An example display is as follows: 000/T 0/M 00/S. The international notation is as follows: @152/1.36; see Figure 4 discussed below for details.

FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIG. 2 approximately in its actual size. In this figure there are four hands 40, 42, 44, 46 corresponding to the seconds hand (40), the minute hand (42), the hour hand (44) and the number of revolutions (46). The first three hands (40, 42, 44) form a set of hands and are of more or less traditional design, with the seconds hand 40 being thinner and/or of a different colour, the minute hand 42 relatively thick and long, and the hour hand 44 relatively short. The seconds hand can be omitted if desired. The hand 46 for the number of turns can also have another shape and in this embodiment is longer than both the seconds hand 40 and the minute hand 42, has a width between said two hands 40 and 42, and is provided with a special design, here Select as @. In principle, other alternative designs are conceivable for the pointer 46 in order to distinguish it from the other three.

The timepiece mechanism is also provided with three fixedly arranged circular time dials 20 , 22 , 24 . From the center to the outside they are, respectively, the first 12-hour scale 20 without numerals, although the invention is not limited thereto. Then there is a scale 24 counting from 1 to 24 to display the passage of UTC. In this case, each two digits of the scale 24 are further divided into 3 parts, but a division into 4 parts etc. can also be used. A dial 22 with 360 revolutions is displayed on the outermost circle, and the numerical value of the number of circles represents every two hours of the universal time dial. The dial is further divided into revolutions (between 0 and 90 revolutions) and each division into integral multiples of 5 revolutions (for the remainder). The selection between these two display modes can also be made differently, eg on the order of two circles at a time, and can also provide finer divisions on different parts of the circles, or no division at all. In addition, a date window 48 is provided and a legend 52 is applied in the rim of the timepiece, preferably reading "Worldwide@Turntime" as the characteristic, improved text of the timepiece according to the invention. The timepiece mechanism can preferably additionally be provided with further text (not shown in the figure), for example for advertising purposes. It is also possible to display the company's name or logo (logo), especially if the timepiece in question is (yet) used as a business gift. It is further mentioned that in an attractive refinement, two calendar windows 48 could be provided, one for the lap date and one for the local date. The latter can be positioned as shown in FIG. 1 as long as the former is positioned in the middle, for example below the numerals 360, 24 and I on the dials 22, 24 and 20, respectively. If the lap time hand 46 crosses 360 located on the dial 22, the lap date changes.

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 approximately in real size of a watch, such as a wristwatch. Others are no different from Figure 1. This figure already gives a good indication of the practical application of the invention. These parts are obviously best judged and shown from the prototype.

FIG. 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 4 approximately in its actual size. Here the two outer dials 22, 24 in FIG. 1 have changed positions. The outer dial 24 has been set as a rotatable ring, so that the standard position shown in the figure can be guaranteed by the snap-in mechanism. The snap-in mechanism preferably contemplates providing hourly and half-hourly positions. In this manner the dial can be positioned according to the time of day at any geographic location. There are no other differences compared to FIG. 1 . A rotating ring provided on the outer edge of a timepiece mechanism has great practical advantages.

FIG. 5 shows a third preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 6 approximately in its actual size. Now includes a digital display with changing digits for world time expressed in laps, in this case 152 1:36, for laps (152, see also hand positions for laps), and 1 minute 36 seconds (time elapsed since reaching the exact time of lap 152). The latter is preferably shown with a cycle time of 4 minutes or 1 lap. Others are no longer different from those in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 7 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 8 approximately in its actual size. In this embodiment, there are two 24 hour dials 24, 24', which have been provided with rotation and suitable snap-in mechanisms. This can be used for time differences between two different locations, for example, where you live and where you travel. For greater clarity, the second scale 24' is a black and white pattern opposite to that of the first scale 24. Another difference from the third embodiment is that the revolution dial 22 is provided with additional markings at 15, 45, 75... and 345 revolutions. The corresponding numerical values are also included in the dial, although for the numerical values 30, 60 . . . etc. white is substituted for black. Others have no other difference compared with Fig. 5 .

Fig. 9 is a block diagram of a driving mechanism in the timepiece mechanism according to the present invention. Box 21 represents a power source, which can be conventional means such as batteries, solar cells or automatic mechanical winding mechanisms. For simplicity, it is assumed that the first option mentioned above is chosen here. The power supply drives the oscillator 23 that provides stable oscillation with a high frequency. A frequency divider 25 divides this frequency by an appropriate factor to form a second pulse. The seconds pulse is supplied to the seconds driver 26 causing the seconds hand represented by box 28 to move. The minute hand 32 is moved in a similar manner, possibly by further graduations of the seconds frequency (not described in more detail for the sake of brevity) and the minute drive 30 . The user is able to adjust the minute hand via mechanism 42, for example when passing a border between two time zones.

The hour hand 36 is moved in a similar manner, possibly by a further division of the seconds frequency (not described in more detail for the sake of brevity) and the hour drive 34 . When the minute hand is adjusted by this device 42 , the hour hand is simultaneously moved in a generally known manner, for example by means of a gear transmission. Alternatively, the device 42 may be electrically operated. In this case, its minutes or its fractions can be adjusted by means of appropriate pulses. However, the position of the pointer 46 for the number of laps remains unchanged during this time; see below.

The revolution pointer 46 moves in a similar manner as described above, possibly by further graduations of the seconds frequency (not described in more detail for the sake of brevity) and the revolution drive 38 . The pointer 46 therefore does not move when the device 42 is operated. The device 42 is able to suffice to adjust a specific timepiece mechanism without taking into account the risk of reading errors of a perceivable level, since there is no need to account for small errors in the time display.

However, the small and other errors mentioned above need to be adjusted for in specific cases, such as when the battery is depleted and is about to be replaced. In this case additional means 44 can be used, for example directly at the output of the frequency divider 24, for adjusting the position of the revolution indicator 46 as well as the minute and hour hands. Another alternative solution is to provide a separate mechanism exclusively for adjusting the lap pointer.

The invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the various variations involved and should not be construed in accordance with the invention as being limited to these preferred embodiments. Rather, the scope of the present invention should be deemed to fall within the scope of the claims set forth hereto hereafter. Thus in particular the entire mechanical implementation of the invention also falls within the scope of these claims.

The timepiece mechanism according to the present invention can be applied not only to watches, but preferably also as a timepiece on the display screen of a PC (Personal Computer) or mobile phone, and especially in the dashboard or operation panel of a car, train or airplane .

Claims (10)

1. clockwork, comprise at least one first pointer (40,42,44) and second pointer (46), this clockwork is designed to the hand motion indication local time by rotating on dial plate, and this clockwork also comprises the driving mechanism that is connected with these pointers, wherein pointer is arranged to comprise described at least one first pointer (44) and is shown the local time with the slowest pointer swing circle that had 12 hours, other pointers (40 that are connected and have shorter swing circle with one or several with it, 42), for example minute hand and/or second hand, it is characterized in that described second pointer (46) was a swing circle with 24 hours, with being formed on clockwork high scale line number is that the index dial (22) of 24 integral multiple matches indication zebra time.

2. clockwork according to claim 1, wherein said second pointer (46) matches with the index dial (22) of 360 degree, and each spends the time interval corresponding to 4 minutes.

3. clockwork according to claim 1, wherein said pointer setting is adjusted independently with respect to described second pointer (46), thereby according to the difference in geographic position and setting-up time, meanwhile described second pointer (46) shows universal time or zebra time continuously.

4. clockwork according to claim 2, wherein said pointer setting comprise three pointers (40,42,44).

5. according to the described clockwork of aforementioned each claim, be provided with 12 small time taking dishes (20), 24 small time taking dishes (24) and be divided into the index dial (22) of 360 unit (° or the number of turns).

6. clockwork according to claim 5, wherein all three index dials (20,22,24) are arranged in the fixed position.

7. clockwork according to claim 5, wherein 24 small time taking dishes (24) rotating ring that is constructed to be permeable to adjust, and two other index dial (20,22) be stationary positioned and be positioned within the 24 small time taking dishes (24).

8. according to the described clockwork of aforementioned each claim, further be provided with the time display of square frame (50) form, have the numeral of the change relevant with described indicator second (46).

9. according to the described clockwork of aforementioned each claim, wherein the part of seeing of dial plate is provided with descriptive name (52).

10. a table is provided with the described clockwork of each claim as described above.

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